Mixed messages

Bobby Anderson

Golkar on the campaign trail in Jayawijaya - Bobby Anderson

Tolikara is a remote and new district in the Papuan Highlands. The 9 April 9 2014 legislative elections in Bokondini, a small town in Tolikara, took a bizarre turn as two of Indonesia’s largest Islamic parties – PPP (Unity Development Party) and PKS (Prosperous Justice Party) – both campaigned for the Christian vote. And while the national, and provincial, PPP candidates are usually Muslim, the local candidates for Tolikara seats on these party tickets were Christians – aspiring politicians hoping to break into local legislatures dominated by bigger parties like Golkar and Demokrat.

PPP supporters gather in Bokondini, Tolikara - Bobby Anderson

PPP supporters in Tolikara waiting for the candidate - Bobby Anderson

PPP candidates and (paid) supporters, Tolikara - Bobby Anderson

And so, a bizarre display unfolded: Muslim outsiders from outside Tolikara stumping for the PPP and PKS vote, while local Papuans on the PPP and PKS tickets organised parades and rallies in an attempt to appeal to indigenous Papuans. This resulted in a menage of penis gourds, PPP flags, bras, and PKS t-shirts.

A happy PPP cadre with local supporters - Bobby Anderson

A dubious onlooker at the PPP rally - Bobby Anderson

PPP on the march in Tolikara - Bobby Anderson

PPP on the march in Tolikara - Bobby Anderson

PKS, Tolikara - Bobby Anderson

Bobby Anderson (rubashov@yahoo.com) works on health, education, and governance projects in Eastern Indonesia, and he travels frequently in Papua province.